Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of extending a standard primitive in a data storage fabric having a plurality of computing devices coupled together to transmit information, the method comprising: combining a plurality of primitives into a sequence including the standard primitive and a variable information primitive, wherein the variable information primitive includes data particular to a broadcast of the sequence, wherein the data included in the variable information primitive is user-configurable and different than data in the standard primitive, and wherein the plurality of computing devices are capable of responding to the standard primitive; and broadcasting the sequence through the data storage fabric and processing the sequence with the plurality of computing devices; wherein the data in the variable information primitive is directed to a first computing device of the plurality of devices such that processing of the sequence with the first computing device causes the first computing device to perform a response to the standard primitive and wherein processing of the sequence with a second computing devices device in the plurality of computing devices causes the second computing device to ignore the standard primitive.
A method for extending a standard communication signal (primitive) in a data storage network where multiple computers transmit information. This involves combining several primitives into a sequence: a standard primitive, and a variable information primitive that contains user-configurable data specific to the broadcast. All computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive. The data in the variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it. This allows targeted actions in response to standard signals.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of primitives includes a START OF SEQUENCE primitive.
The method described above, where the sequence of communication signals also includes a "START OF SEQUENCE" primitive to indicate the beginning of the combined signals.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the START OF SEQUENCE primitive is a first primitive in the sequence.
The method described above, where the sequence of communication signals also includes a "START OF SEQUENCE" primitive to indicate the beginning of the combined signals, and this "START OF SEQUENCE" primitive is the first signal in the sequence.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein a primitive notifying a target in the data storage fabric of a number of primitives in the sequence follows the START OF SEQUENCE in the sequence.
The method where the sequence of communication signals includes a "START OF SEQUENCE" primitive and a subsequent primitive that indicates the total number of primitives included in the complete sequence. This helps a receiving device know how much data to expect.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of primitives includes an END OF SEQUENCE primitive as the last primitive in the sequence.
The method described in the first claim, which includes a sequence of signals: a standard primitive, and a variable information primitive that contains user-configurable data specific to the broadcast, such that all computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive. The data in the variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it. The sequence also includes an "END OF SEQUENCE" primitive as the last signal in the sequence, indicating the sequence is complete.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the END OF SEQUNCE primitive includes error detection.
The method where the sequence of communication signals includes an "END OF SEQUENCE" primitive as the last signal in the sequence, and this "END OF SEQUENCE" primitive includes error detection capabilities to verify the integrity of the received data.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the error detection is a cyclic redundancy check.
The method where the "END OF SEQUENCE" primitive includes error detection capabilities, specifically using a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) algorithm to verify data integrity.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the variable information primitive includes an encoded address of a particular change in the data storage fabric.
In the method described in the first claim, the variable information primitive contains an encoded address representing a specific location or change within the data storage network.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the data storage fabric is a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface domain.
The method described in the previous claim, where the variable information primitive contains an encoded address representing a specific location or change within the data storage network, and the data storage network is a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) domain.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the encoded address is a source data storage fabric address.
In the method where the variable information primitive contains an encoded address representing a specific location or change within the data storage network, the encoded address is the source address within the data storage network.
11. A method of extending a standard primitive in a data storage fabric having a plurality of computing devices coupled together to transmit information including a first computing device and a second computing device, the method comprising: combining a plurality of primitives into a sequence including the standard primitive and a variable information primitive, wherein the variable information primitive includes data particular to a broadcast of the sequence, wherein the data included in the variable information primitive is user-configurable and different than data in the standard primitive, and wherein the plurality of computing devices are capable of responding to the standard primitive; broadcasting the sequence through the data storage fabric and processing the sequence with the plurality of computing devices; wherein the data in the variable information primitive is directed to the first computing device such that processing of the sequence with the first computing device causes the first computing device to perform a response to the standard primitive and wherein processing of the sequence with the second computing devices device causes the second computing device to ignore to the standard primitive; buffering the sequence at an expander; and decoding the sequence at a target initiator.
A method for extending a standard communication signal (primitive) in a data storage network with multiple computers. It involves combining a standard primitive with a variable information primitive (user-configurable, specific to the broadcast). Computers can respond to the standard primitive. The variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond, while a second computer ignores it. The sequence is buffered at an expander (a network device) and then decoded at a target initiator (another network device).
12. The method of claim 11 wherein broadcasting the sequence through the data storage fabric includes sending the sequence to a receiving PHY and waiting for an acknowledgement primitive from the receiving PHY.
The method where a sequence of communication signals that include a standard primitive, and a variable information primitive which contains user-configurable data specific to the broadcast, where all computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive, the variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it, sending the sequence through the data storage fabric includes sending the sequence to a receiving PHY (physical layer interface) and waiting for an acknowledgement signal from the receiving PHY, confirming successful receipt.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein failing to receive an acknowledgement primitive includes sending a standard primitive to the receiving PHY.
The method where sending the sequence through the data storage fabric includes sending the sequence to a receiving PHY (physical layer interface) and waiting for an acknowledgement signal from the receiving PHY, such that when failing to receive an acknowledgement primitive, the sender transmits a standard primitive to the receiving PHY, instead of the extended sequence.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the primitive sequence initiates a discovery in a particular expander and the standard primitive sent to the receiving PHY is a BROADCAST(CHANGE) primitive.
The method where, a sequence of communication signals includes a standard primitive, and a variable information primitive which contains user-configurable data specific to the broadcast, where all computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive, the variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it, and where failing to receive an acknowledgement primitive results in sending a standard primitive to the receiving PHY, and where the original sequence of communication signals is designed to initiate a discovery process on a particular expander and the standard primitive sent in case of failure is a BROADCAST(CHANGE) primitive.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the target initiator initiates the discovery.
The method where a sequence of communication signals includes a standard primitive, and a variable information primitive which contains user-configurable data specific to the broadcast, where all computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive, the variable information primitive directs a first computer to respond to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it, and where the BROADCAST(CHANGE) primitive is sent as a fallback mechanism when the original sequence does not receive an acknowledgement. The discovery process is initiated by the target initiator (a specific device in the network).
16. The method of claim 15 wherein other initiators in the data storage fabric receiving the sequence do not initiate discovery.
The method where, the discovery process is initiated by the target initiator (a specific device in the network), and other initiators in the data storage network that receive the sequence do not initiate the discovery process.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the target initiator is included in a plurality of initiators in the data storage fabric and each initiator of the plurality of initiators determines whether to perform an action in response to receiving the sequence.
The method where, the discovery process is initiated by the target initiator (a specific device in the network) which is included within a group of initiators within the data storage network and each initiator of the group determines whether to perform an action upon receiving the sequence.
18. A method of extending a standard primitive in a data storage fabric having a plurality of computing devices coupled together to transmit information including a first computing device and a second computing device, the method comprising: combining a plurality of primitives into a sequence including the standard primitive and a variable information primitive, wherein the variable information primitive includes an encoded address in the data storage fabric the sequence, wherein the data included in the variable information primitive is user-configurable and different than data in the standard primitive, wherein the plurality of computing devices are capable of responding to the standard primitive wherein the data in the variable information primitive is directed to the first computing device such that processing of the sequence with the first computing device causes the first computing device to initiate a discovery in response to the standard primitive and wherein processing of the sequence with the second computing devices device causes the second computing device to ignore to the standard primitive and not initiate a discovery, and broadcasting the sequence through the data storage fabric.
A method for extending a standard communication signal (primitive) in a data storage network, including combining a standard primitive with a variable information primitive that contains an encoded address within the data storage network. The variable information primitive is user-configurable. All computers in the network can respond to the standard primitive. The variable information primitive directs a first computer to initiate a discovery process in response to the standard primitive, while a second computer ignores it and does not initiate discovery. The sequence is then broadcast.
19. The method of claim 17 including not broadcasting the sequence to an initiator in the data storage fabric.
In the method, a sequence of communication signals are used: a standard primitive and variable information primitive, user-configurable, where all computers can respond to the standard primitive. A first computer initiates discovery, the second ignores it. The broadcast sequence is not sent to any initiators (devices that can start communication) in the data storage network.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the sequence is not interleaved with another concurrently broadcast sequence through the data storage fabric.
A method for managing data sequences in a storage system addresses the challenge of efficiently handling multiple data sequences without interference. The method involves transmitting a sequence of data through a data storage fabric, where the sequence is not interleaved with another concurrently broadcast sequence. This ensures dedicated bandwidth and reduces latency for the primary sequence, improving performance for critical data transfers. The method may include steps such as receiving the sequence, determining its priority or type, and routing it through the fabric without interleaving. The storage fabric may be a network or interconnect system that facilitates high-speed data movement between storage devices and processors. By avoiding interleaving, the method prevents contention and ensures predictable performance for time-sensitive applications. The technique is particularly useful in systems where multiple data streams must coexist without degrading each other's performance, such as in high-performance computing, real-time analytics, or distributed storage environments. The method may also include error detection, flow control, or quality-of-service mechanisms to further enhance reliability and efficiency.
Unknown
October 7, 2014
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.